Suicide clutch
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
I had an old 1942 "45" Flat Head when I was 16. It had the rocker clutch and hand shift on the tank. Not all that bad to ride except my front brake cable was broke. As said above it was a little tricky starting out on a hill when the light changed. Some fancy foot work as you went from left foot down and right foot on the brake, to right foot down and left foot on the clutch. Of course, when you are 16 you can ride anything. LOL.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 446
Likes: 4
From: Nevada
I rode one for a bit back in the ... well a ways back. If you didn't have a front brake, you were in for some fun. A left turn from a stop was a real experience. You had to start to the right because your right foot was down, then transition to a left turn. Fun to ride though.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,478
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
Mousetrap was a device used with the first HD hand clutches. It was a "force multiplier" so that it didn't take as much force at the lever to operate the clutch.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA
Years ago my next door neighbor offered me to take his 45" Servi-Car around the block. I declined but he persisted. It had the tank shift-arm and a not stock foot clutch. I got it into 1st and slowly proceeded down the driveway. Shifted into 2nd with ease and brought it back within 3-minutes. Came to a crawl to shift back into 1st to creep up the driveway. I think it had a reverse idler but wasn't going to use it anyway. Three forward gears.
The owner took that Servi-Car to a bike show a few months later and won 1st place! More than a Machine!!!!
The owner took that Servi-Car to a bike show a few months later and won 1st place! More than a Machine!!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
My father rode a trike as a Chicago P.D. Said he saw guys break their legs a couple times starting the things. All the other stuff was tricky as well, but at least he didn't have to worry bout falling over! Tank slap at any speed above 45 mph, too. Sheesh.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 6
From: Portland, Oregon
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 18,776
Likes: 42
From: Walker WV by way of NEW YORK CITY
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
The old rocker pedal worked good but in the 60's and 70's many hand shift choppers had a modified clutch pedal that did work like a car and no front brake. This worked OK in the flatlands but of course if you came to a stop on a hill with the rear brake foot pedal stopping, no neutral and the other foot on the clutch you were in trouble. I converted my '56 pan chopper to hand clutch and the drum front brake that would atleast hold on most hills. I felt a lot more confident after that.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
I remember the trick with the mousetrap was to wrap your fingers around the lever and use your body to pull back the first 1/2" then grab with your hand. It was easy once you got it moving over center.